Developer Kincardine Offshore Windfarm Limited (KOWL), which is majority-owned by Spanish construction company Cobra Wind International, confirmed that power is flowing from a 2MW Vestas turbine at the site.

A 50MW Kincardine project is due to consist of a further six V164-8.0 MHI Vestas turbines mounted on WindFloat semi-submersible platforms designed by Principle Power.

It is due to be fully operational in 2020 and could be the world’s largest floating offshore wind farm.

Jaime Altolaguirre, KOWL’s managing director, said: "The lessons learnt from the project will allow us to create the next generation of floating projects globally, in deeper waters and further from shore."

The announcement of Kincardine achieving first power comes in the same week that seabed landlord Crown Estate Scotland released a report into the potential benefits of floating wind in the UK.

It stated that floating wind create up to 17,000 jobs and £33.6 billion (€37.8 billion) gross value added by mid-century.